Sony PlayStation 3 ranks as the most popular Netflix streaming device

Sony Computer Entertainment America didn’t exactly score a knockout three-peat with its PlayStation 3. While the original PlayStation and the subsequent follow-up PlayStation 2 were each the top selling video game console of their respective hardware generation (with the PS2 reaching sales of 154 million) the PS3 has only matched Microsoft’s Xbox 360 in passing about 70 million in sales this past September.

Those numbers are still good enough to make the PS3 the primary development platform for Netflix, as Netflix CEO Reed Hastings recently announced Sony’s game console is the world’s most popular device for viewing Netflix content.

The PS3 was the first device to offer Netflix in full 1080p video resolution with 5.1-channel Dolby Digital Plus surround sound. It will also be the only system to use the new “Max” voice interface feature that is in beta tests now.

Sony and Netflix expanded their partnership this year as well by bringing the Netflix experience to Sony’s portable device, the PlayStation Vita in the United States. With it, PlayStation 3 owners can start watching a movie or TV show on Netflix, pause it, and continue watching on PS Vita’s 5-inch high-def OLED screen.